IE920588A1 - Method and apparatus for dispensing flexible sheet material - Google Patents

Abstract

A dispenser for cutting and feeding a web of flexible sheet material is described in which a feed roller carries a web cutting blade and a spring connected to an eccentric crank affixed to the feed roll. While initial movement of the web through the mechanism and actuation of the cutter to effect partial separation of the web material is produced by the user's pull on the web, such pull also loads the spring which, upon unloading, delivers the cut web material from the dispenser. The spring is designed to gradually arrest rotation of the feed roll and to be exhausted of stored energy at a predetermined position of the feed roll whereupon the uncut segments of web material are efficaciously severed and the leading end of the succeeding web material is automatically positioned where it can be readily grasped by a subsequent user.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING PLgnStE SHEET MATERIAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVkNTlQH The present Invention relates to flexible sheet material dispensers, such as dispensers (or paper towels. The invention particularly relates to a method for cutting and dlspenelng individual sheets Dispensers for continuous, unperforated flexible sheet material, such as paper toweling, ara well known. Such dispensers Include those ln which the Sheets are simply torn from the web by the user or, more commonly, thoee in whloh the sheets are completely severed by a cutter in the dispenser for removal by a user. Alao lndnded are dispensers ln which the cutter ln the dispenser produces a line of cut containing residual segments of uncut material ln the web defining the desired sheet that is, thereafter, completely severed by the user upon removal. The first-mentioned type of dispenser has the (Beadvantage that it employs no control against the length ct web material dispensed prior to severance such that a user can wasteful# pull out an excessive length cf material prior to tearing It off. Suoh dispensers have the further disadvantage that, following removal of the sheet by the user, the next user must pay out a succeeding length of web by pulling a handle, turning a erank, or activating some other device that requires touching or handling the mechanism which, in the environment that such dispensers are located, l.e., wash rooms and the like, is undesirable.

Accordingly, ln dispensers of more recent design these disadvantages have been overcome by the utilization of outting devices ln -2the dispenser that cut tha material to sheet length a> tha user pulls It from the dispenser, Such apparatus typically Involve a feed roll from whieh paper is supplied by a user grasping the free end of the web that ia disposed outside the dispenser chassis aad pulling it to operate the feed roll· lo these devices a stored energy mechantom, such as a spring, may ba associated with the feed ran to activate the cutter and/or to conduct the web material from the dispenser. As mentioned, cutters for such dispensers may cut the material to totally sever a sheet from the web or, alternatively, may produce such a out as win only partially sever the web, leaving the sheet connected to the web hy means of one or more unsevered segments of residual web material, for removal hy the user following conduct of the sheet from the dispenser by the feed roiL Dispense» of the concerned type in which a cutter operates in conjunction with a feed roll and in which the motive force for the operation of the dispenser Is provided by the web material being pulled by the user are exemplified by UX Patent Nos. 1,575,828, 4,122,718 and 4,521,755. These dispensers each characteristically employ an over-center spring drive that to loaded during a first portion of the operating cycle of the mechanism during which cutting to normally effected as the web material, In friction contact with the feed roll, to pulled from 0» dispenser. After completion or the cutting operation, when tho feed ran Is rotated beyond the over-center condition, the spring to unloaded and the energy stored therein to utilised to drive the feed roti to oonduct the cut web portion from the dispenser and to dispose the leading end of the succeeding length of web material at a location outside the dispenser chassis where It can be readily grasped by the next user.

In each of UX Patent Noe. 8375,825, 4,122,785 and 4,521,758, which typify the concerned devices, the length or web material removed from the dispenser is controlled by means of a positive or hard stop mechanism that limits the amount 3jBeetuudsm described in UJS. Patent No. 3,575,328 in which the cutting knife produces a perforated, or only partially severed, line of cut, the stop mechanism serves the additional function of providing an abrupt arresting force on the w»b material whereupon the sheet defined ty the perforated line of cut is caused to be completely severed ty the pulling force imported ty the user.

It has been determined that positive stop mechanisms manifest significant undesirable characteristics. The more obvious of these undesirable characteristics are the additional cost that they add to a dispenser, both ln terms of purchase price and In terms Of the additional space required to accommodate them. Also, since these mechanisms are subject to repeated Impact stresses, they are prone to frequent malfunction and breakage.

Furthermore, such positive stop mechanism* are particularly disadvantageous when employed with apparatus Intended to dispense partially severed soft, relatively weak flexible Sheet material. Under these conditions, the web material may become separated ty tearing along the Uns of cut before the stop mechanism Is activated, whereupon the next user can only remove an unusable limited amount ot material before the stop la activated thereby preventing the removal of any more material.

Obviously, such problems can be overcome ty Increasing the strength of the uncovered segments of web material that bold the web together along the line of out) however, when this le done, particularly when the material Is highly absorbent and the users hands are wet, the material cannot be relied upon to sever along the line of cut when the stop mechanism is activated, instead, the pulling action of the user frequently results In severance of only the wet part of the web material held ln the ueerie hands, which, more often than not, becomes untidy debris deposited on the floor beneath the dispenser.

It la to the amelloratioa of the above described problems, therefore, to which the present invention is directed. -4«ΜΜΑΐΤ py ΤΗΚ ΜΥΒΗΙΜΒ Accordtagly, a principal object of tbe present invention la to provide an Improved dtepeneer for flexible sheet material and a method far operating the seme.

Another Object ci the present Invention la to provide Improved apparatus and method for Oapensing meets obtained from an elongated web of flexible material by the operation of a cutter and dispensed by withdrawal therefrom by tbe user.

Tet another object of tbe present lnveotloo la to provide Improved apparatus and method for dispensing partially severed sheets of predetermined length from an elongated web of material In which, in withdrawing tbe material from the dispenser, the user effeots complete severance of the Sheet from tbe web and automatically delivers the free end of the succeeding material to a position for grasping by the next user.

Still another object of the present Invention is to provide an improved dispenser for soft, absorbent paper toweling capable of producing tbe desired results without need for the user to touch anything but the toweling being dispensed.

Directed to achieving the desired results is a dispenser for flexible sheet material comprising a chassis forming a housing having a material discharge opening, means earned hy the chassis for feeding a supply of flexible Sheet material, means for cutting tbe web to produoe therein a transverse tine of out containing residual unsevered segments of web material for maintaining the continuity of the web, a feed roll mounted oo the chassis for rotation through an operating oyele In which the web is oonduoted from tbe feed means into operative relation to the cutting meene, and thence to a predetermined poaition outside the discharge opening to be grasped by a user for pulling tbe web from the tfispenser to thereby impart rotational movement to the feed roll, and energy storing means bperatively connected to the feed roll to be loaded during rotation of the feed roll through one portion of tbe operating cycle and unloaded during another portion of the operating oyele tor moving the feed rod to oonduct tbe sheet material web, with the tine of out thereon, exteriorly of tbe -sxBsohwga opening, the energy storing means imparting a resistive force to the feed roll effective to operate against the pull of the user to impart a gradually increasing force on the web for severing the residual segments.

Also involved b a method for dispensing a web of flexible sheet material from a dispenser having a discharge opening and a feed rou traversed hy the web, cutting means operable as the web traverses the feed roll and energy storing means operatively oonneotlng the feed roll, comprising the steps of pulling the web to impart rotation of the feed rod and to load the spring over ona portico of ths rotatUHMl cycle ol the feed nttU activating the cutting means for partially severing the web, driving the feed roll by the energy stored in the spring over another portion of the rotational cycle of the feed roll to deliver the partially severed web to a predetermined position beyond ths dispenser discharge opening, tod thereafter severing the web by imparting a gradually Inoreasing teosUe strain on the unflevered portion of the web against the resistance produced by loading the spring.

These and other aepects of the invention and their advantages win become more apparent by reference to the following detailed description of the invention in conjunction with the appended drawings.

BMBF DESCRIPTION OF THB DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic elds elevational view, with portions thereof in section, of a web material dispenser according to the present invention; Figure 3 la an enlarged sectional view of the feed roller and cutter apparatus of the dispenser of Fig. 1; Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along line a-3 of Fig. 3; Figure 4 ia a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the feed roller and cutter apparatus in a different operating condition] Figure 8 is a pita view of the feed ran shown in Fig, ij figure 8 is an elevational view of the cutting blade utilized in the practice cf the invention; Figure T is an exploded perspective view of a dispenser aooordlng to the invention suitable for commercial utility; Figure 8 to aa exploded perspective view or a prinoipai pert of the end portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 7; Figure 9 to a rear elevational view of the stripper tar of the dispenser shown In rig. 7; Figure 10 to a bottom plan view or the stripper ber of Fig. 9j and Figure 11 to a side sectional view of the stripper bar of Fig, 9. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THR PREFERRED KMBrtffllfKWT Figure 1 dtogrammatieally Illustrates a dispenser organization 10 for practicing the invention. The dtopenser 10 comprises a cabinet ehassto including a hack plate 12 provided with means (not shown) to permit attachment to an upstanding wall, or the like. A yoke 10, pivotally attached to the plate 12, as by means of brackets 17, mounts a supply roll R of flexible sheet web material, such as paper toweling. Bach leg of the yoke 14 carries at its free end a cup IS adapted to be inserted Into an end of the oore of the supply roll R, suoh that the roll can readily rotate when resting against the back plate 12. Suoh mounting for a «φρίγ roll in a dtopenser ehassto to conventional.

The ehassto of the dtopenser 10 to enclosed by a cover 22 that may be suitably oonneoted, as by means oi pivot connections (not shown), to the hack plate 12. Such form of connection enables the cover to be readily opened to penult access to the interior, as for example, tor replacing spent supply roils R. A discharge opening 201s disposed at the bottom at the front wall of the cabinet cover 22 from whence a web W of flexible sheet material withdrawn from the roll R is suitably dispensed from the apparatus, as hereinafter desoribed.

Referring to Figures l to 4, a feed roll «0 accordtog to tbs invention to rotatably mounted on «um Sharts 22 extending axially outwardly from the opposite ends thereof. Each stub shaft >3 has one end fixedly securing a central bore 24 In a hub 20 of feed roll SO, as best Shown In Figure 2. The outer end of one of the stub shafts 22 may be provided with a hand wheel (not shown) fixedly secured thereto to enable manual rotation of the feed roll 20 when desired as, for example, for Initially threading ths web W oi flexible sheet material from supply roll R through the dispensing and cutting mechanism -7.to the dtocharge opening 20. Eaoh of the feed roll hubs 00 to formed, m shown, with a pair of diametrically aligned slots 80. These pairs of slots in the huhs 80 at the opposite emto of the feed roll 80 form part of the mounting means for the cutter mechanism, as hereinafter desoribed.

The cutter mechanism oomprtoes a carrier structure tor a cutting blade 40 Including a pair of oppositely spaced plates 42 (Figure 8). The plates 42 are each fixedly mounted on each end of the cutting Made 40 and extend perpendicularly to toe length of the blade. As best shown in Figure 0, toe blade 40 to formed with a plurality of teeth 44 longitudinally spaced along toe length thereof, in toe illustrated embodiment, four pain of teeth 44 are provided along toe length of blade 40 with each pair being separated from the next by « recess 40. The feed roll 80, on Its external surface, Is provided with a plurality ol apertures defined by longitudinally aligned slots 48. Four such slots are Shown in Figure 9 with these slots being separated by continuous surface portions 80 which are part of toe external surface of toe feed roil so.

The cutting Hade 40 to disposed within feed roll 80, with the respective pairs of teeth 44 on toe Made 40 adapted to project outwardly through the slots 48, and the solid portions 80 of the feed roll periphery being received by the three recesses 48. By means of this cutting blade design, the cut produced In toe weh of flexible sheet material as It passes over toe surface of feed roll SO to along a substantially Straight line extending parallel to the axis of feed roll 80. The line of out produced by the Illustrated blade -ιSubjected to a pulling force, the sheet defined by the line ef out la easily separated by the breaking of the uncut web portions produced by the configuration of the eutting blade 40 and the cooperating slots in the feed roll surface. The user thereby effectively obtains the appropriate length of toweling.

Bach of the carrier plates <2 attaching the opposite en* of cutting blade 40 has a pair of guide pins 80 extending normally to the plane of the plate. These pine 80 ire positioned on the respective plates 42 to be guldingly received in the aligned slots 88 formed ln each hub 88 at the ends of feed roller 80. By means of tills mounting arrangement the eutting blade 40 reciprocates in a path which is parallel to, and laterally offset from, a radius cf the feed rail 80. This radius corresponds to the axis of the aligned slots >8 which extend along a diameter of feed roll 80. Thus, not only does the mounting means enable movement of the cutting blade 40 in a path parallel to, and laterally offset from, this radius of feed roll 80, but it also provides for reciprocation of the guide pios 80 along this same feed roil radius.

As shown la Figure 0, ooe of the guide pins 00 on each af the carrier plates 42 has a cam follower 82 formed as an extension thereof. These cam followers 82, disposed at opposite ends of the feed roll SO, extend outwardly beyond the ends of feed roll 80, as best Shown ln Figure 8. Thus, with the guide pins 80 on each carrier plate 42 reoalved in the pairs of aligned dots 88 ln the hub 88 at each end of the feed roil, the cam fotiomwe 82 extend oppositely outwardly beyond the feed roll ends to engage a stationary earn 82 mounted on the dispenser chassis, as described hereinafter.

Within the lower forward portion of dispenser chassis 10 Immediately adjacent the discharge opening 20, a mounting struoture 70 supports the feed roti 80 aod other components that comprise the dispensing and eutting mechanism. The disposition of the easing TO within the dispenser chassis 10 is Schematically represented ln Figure li however, the components of ti» easing 70 may generally be seen in the sectional view cf Figure 8. The easing 70 includes a bousing 71 formed as a portion of a eyllnder having an Internal diameter somewhat larger than the diameter of feed roll SO. Housing 71 extend* continuously from the location at which the web W of flexible sheet material eaten tha dispensing and cutting mechanism and terminates adjacent the discharge opening 20. The housing 71 extends transversely across tbs dispenser cfasssls 10 having Its ends closely spaced from the sides of the pivotally mounted cover 19. Housing 71 may have its ends closed by end plates 72 which are appropriately secured thereto, as shown in section in Figure 3.

Within the enclosure defined by the housing 71 and the end plates 72 is a lead-in pinch roll 74, which is preferably mounted on a rotatable shaft and la blasad by spring means (not shown) against the peripheral surface of feed roll SO. An exit pinch roll 70 is disposed Immediately adjacent the dispenser exit 20 and b also biased against the peripheral surface of feed roll SO. Ih the preferred embodiment of the Invention the exit pinch roll 70 contains at each end a stub shaft 78, or the like, for rotatable mounting in an elongated Journal opening, indicated in Fig. 1 by the dotted line identified aa 70, formed in the easing structure.

The path along which the web W of flexible sheet material moves from supply roll R through the dispensing and cutting mechanism will now be desoribed. After leaving roll R, the web W is guided by the external surface of the housing 71, as seen in Figures l, 2 and 4, to paas initially clockwise around the pinch roll 74. Web W then prooeeds counterclockwise around the exterior of feed roil SO whloh is provided with a high friction surf aoe, formed, far example, of a resilient material. The housing 71, in generally concentrically enclosing feed roll SO, thereby assists in threading the leading end of the web W around the rear side of the feed roll within the dispenser chassis 10, Thereafter, the web W passes clockwise over the exit pinch roll 70 and exits through the tesoharge opening 20 placing Its leading and WB in a position to ba readily accessible externally of the dispenser chassis 10 for an intending user of the toweling material. in order to remove web material from the dispenser It win be appreciated that a user will grasp the leading end WB of the web w and, in pilling it, cause the feed ran SO to rotate thereby conducting i -wthe web along its Intended path through the apparatus. The presence of the pinch rolls 74 and 70 biased against the feed rou SO are effective to substantially Isolate the longitudinally applied tensile stresses Induced ln the web W when it Is pulled by the user to generate rotation of the feed rolL When the web W Is pulled, the tension stresses In the web are, instead, substantially United to that portion of the web which, at the upstream end, extends between the supply roll R and the lead-ln pinch roll 74 and at the downstream end, extends between the pinch roll 70 and the grasp of the user. As a result, that length of mb w whloh traverses the surface of feed roll SO Is, except for tensile stresses Induced by the knife 40, relatively unstressed ln the longitudinal direction when the free end WB of the web Is pulled hy the user.

Positive reciprocation of the cutting blade 40, and thereby projection of the cutting teeth 44 beyond the periphery of the feed roll 00 to out the web and thereafter to retract the knife as the feed roll rotates, Is effected by stationary cams that ara mounted on opposite ends of the dispenser chassis 10 adjacent the respective ends of the feed roll. Each stationary earn ln the Illustrated embodiment la defined by a cam plate 80 having a cam track S3 formed therein. As shown ln Figure 0, eaoh cam plate 80 Is disposed within the bousing 70 in abutment with the end plate 72, The earn followers $2 disposed ln Alignment with the guide pine 00 et the respective upper ends of the carrier plate 42 for the cutting knife 40 engage the respective cam tracks 83 of the cam plates 80. The particular configuration of the cam track 82, which is effective to drive the cutting knife ln the desired manner, la shown ty the broken lines in Figures 2 and 4. A web cutting apparatus, suitable for use ln the daeeribed dispenser, Is dledoeed ln detail In U.8. Patent No. 4,712,461, Issued Deoemher 18, 1087 to Holger Rasmussen and assigned to the assignee hereof.

Support Is provided for the feed roll M within the casing defined ty housing 70 and end plates 72 ty a sleeve hearing 04 deposed ln each cam plate 80 within which the respective stub shafts 32 are journaled. The support structure for one end of the feed roll Is -11M»wn In Figure 8. A similar construction b provided at the opposite end of the casing for support of tbe other end of feed roll 90.

As shown in Figures l, 2 and 4, a stripper bar 90 b fixed to tho (Bspenser front wall 32. The lower or free end of the stripper bar 90, which is substantially coextensive with the feed roll 30, b disposed closely adjacent tha surface of the feed roll immediately forwardly adjacent the exit plnoh roll n. The stripper her 90 Is operative to ensure that tbe web of ereped material docs not adhere to the high friction surface of the feed roll 80 following lb emergence from the nip between tbe feed roll mad exit punch roll but will, instead, be properly guided by tbe exit pinch roil 79 to the dispenser exit 20.

With web W threaded about the elements of tbe dispensing and cutting meobanlam, aa previously described, tbe cutting edge formed by teeth <4 on cutting blade 40 la Initially disposed in Its retracted position to He within the periphery of feed roll 80. Due to the cam followers 82 engagement In the portion of the respective earn tracks 82, which are closely adjacent the axis of feed roll 80 defined by the supporting stub shafts 82, the application of a pulling force on the web end WB causes web materiel withdrawn from supply roll B to pass around lead-in pioch roll 74, thenoe around the high friction surface of feed roll 80 and, finally, around tbe exit pinch roll 78 for ultimate discharge through opening 29.

Aa the web material b pulled from tbe dispenser by tbe user, tbe web material frictionally engages the feed roil 30 causing it to rotate and the earn followers 82 to thus move counterclockwise, as shown in Figures 2 to 4, around the path of earn trade 82. Continued rotadooal movement of tbe feed roll SO moves the earn followers 82 frmn the uppermost position In cam tracks 82, ee shown In Figures 1 and 2, to the lowermost position within earn tracks 82 rimwn In Figure 4. During thb one hundred and eighty degree rotation of feed roll 90, the teeth 44 on knife 40 progress from within the Interior of the feed roil to a position where the cutting edge defined by the teeth is fully projected, as shown lo Figure 4. Abo, during thb rotation of the feed roU 88, white the outtlng edges of teeth 44 project through tbe aligned slots 48 in tbe feed roU surface, tbe web W to cut In a way that results Jn Its not being completely severed but, instead, small uncut portions defined by the recesses 48 In knife 41 remain alor* the line of out.

The approximate range of rotation of the feed rail 90 within which paper outtlng occurs Is designated by area 84 In Figure 4.

Continued withdrawal of the web W by the user oontinuee the rotation of the feed roll SO thereby causing the earn followers 02 to move up within the earn trades 82 of cam plates 80 to rapidly retraot the cutting edges of teeth 44 oo outtlng blade 40 back within the feed ran. When the dots 48 on the feed roll surface reach the nip of the feed roll and exit pinch roller 76, tha teeth 44 of knife «0 are fully retracted back within the feed roll. The knife 40 retains this fully retracted position as the cam followers 82 travel along the remaining path of cam tracks 82 and until the slots 48 reach the nip between feed roller SO and pinch roller 74, tbe position of the knife <0 shown In Figure 2.

According to tbe present invention, the operation of the described dtopenser 10 is materially affected by the feed roll drive apparatus, Indicated generally in Figure 1 of the drawing by numeral 100. The feed roll drive 100 comprises a crank arm 102 fixedly secured to the feed roll SO and a drive spring 104 attached, as at 105, to the crank arm to establish an eccentric connection with the feed roll. At it* other end the spring 104 is flxBd with respect to the chassis housing, here shown by being attached to a bracket 108 formed on the baric plate 12.

Tbe «hive apparatus to particularly designed to effect loading erf the spring 104 during the Initial portion of the operating oyole of the dtopenser when the user pulls the free end WE of web W to cause the feed roil SO to rotate. The crank arm 102 and spring 104 are so organized with reepect to the cutter assembly, that tbe spring becomes fully loaded at, or Just prior to, that point in the operating oyole of the dtopenser at whleh the knife 40 is fully extended end, consequently, has completed Its outtlng or the web W. Thus, when the feed roil SO is moved beyond this print, the spring unloads and, in unloading, is caused to drive the reed roll and conduct the, now partially severed, web material carried thereby outside the dispenser. The -urelatiooAlp between the crank arm 102 and spring 104 to such that, when the energy etored In the spring la exhausted, the position of the eranlt arm and thereby the feed roll SO will piaoe the line of cut in the web W at a desired predetermined position beyond the opening 20 to make the free end WH of the auoceedng length of material readily aocearible to the grasp of a subsequent user of the dispenser, in this regard, therefore, the spring 104 It caused to act aa a brake upon the rotating feed rail so causing it to etop at the desired predetermined position. b> imparting the resistive force on the feed roll SO to effect braking, the spring 104 operates by producing a gradually Increasing tensQe force oo the residual segments defined by the uncut web portions, which force is directed oppositely to the force applied by the grasp of the user and increases gradually to a level capable cf exceeding ihe strength of the web segments whereupon the segments are caused to break. Upon completion of this action, the now completely severed sheet of web material lg retained by the user and the free end WB of the succeeding length ct web material returns to the desired position for grasping by a subsequent user.

A aprlxag selected for use as a drive spring 104 In the described dtopeneer organisation will Include among Its characteristics the oapebmty of bring extendable to the dead center position of the crank 102 by the user* pulling the web W to rotate the feed roll 80 and thus the craok 102 against the force of the spring. Thus, the spring must not be so strong as to cause an uncut web to tear when pulled to load Ihe spring, on the other hand, the spring will contain sufficient stored energy when In It* fully-extended condition aad with the crank In Its dead center position to dtivlngly rotate the feed roll 80 for conducting the web carried thereby out of the discharge opening so. Moreover, with the qtring In Its exhausted condition the line cf cut, prior to severance of the sheet, or the web end WB, after severance, will be deposed in the position to permit ready grasping of the web end by a subsequent user. Lastly, the selected spring will be possessed of sufficient etrength that, prior to achieving its fully extended condition, will exert a face sufficient to exceed the -14Strength of the residual uncut web segments such that the segments will break when a pull tending to load the spring is Imposed on the web, such breaking force being achieved before the feed roil SO and erank 102 are rotated to the dead center cooditioo of the latter.

It will be appreciated that the loro· of aping 104 in the described organisation oan be employed to break the uncut web segments lo two alternative modes of operation of the dispenser thereby insuring separation of the sheet, to the first, which is characterized essentially by the user*! pulling the web end WB with only sufficient force to rotate the feed roO SO adequately to actuate the knife 40 and to fully load the spring 104 by placing the orank arm 102 Just beyond Its dead center position, the feed roil 80, under the impetus of the stored energy in the spring, carries the web material and, particularly, the line cf cut containing the residual web segments to the predetermined position outside the discharge opening. Due to the expenditure of energy ln the spring 104, the feed roU 80 comes to rest at a position which places the line of out ln the web at its predetermined location. Thus, the user simply grasps the web below the line of cut and applies a pulling force thereto. Thia serves to apply a force on the feed rail so and, thus, oo the spring 104 tending to again load it. However, the strength of the web segments being insufficient to permit the spring to be fully loaded, when the resultant of the pulling force by the user and the loading force on the spring exceeds the strength cf the uncut web segments, the segments are caused to break thereby placing the now completely severed sheet ln the hands of the user and causing the feed roti 80 to move backwardly to place the free end WB of the suooeedlng length of web W at the predetermined position for graving by a subsequent user.

According to an alternate mode cf operation, which may be characterized by the user* applying an excessive initial pulling force on tie web, or by the use of a heavier than required spring, the uncut web segments on the line of cut may be broken by the initial effect of the feed roll SO ln rotating beyond the point of relaxation of the spring 80 and into the loading region of the next operating cycle. UndBr these conditions, with the user not applying a pulling farce, but ISAmply holding th* web below the line of out, the resultant force can be sufficient to break the segments.

It will be appreciated that, under the latter-described mode of operation, stnee the Initial force of the feed roll 80 ia significantly less than that required to move the erank arm 182 to Its Mead canter position, upon severanoe of the web segments the spring farce on the 104 will be expanded to return It to Its relaxed position. Concomitantly, the feed roll to and the free end WB of web material w carried thereby undergo retrograde movement to return the free end WB of the web W to its predetermined position and leaving the now-severed sheet in the hands of the user. it win also be appreciated that these deecribed anodes of operation of the invention are augmented by the presenee of the exit pinch roll 70 to the extent of insuring that insufficient tensile forces are Imposed on the residual, unsevered segments in the writ) until the line of out that contains them exteods beyond the nip or point of engagement between the exit pinch roll 70 and the feed roll 80. thus, due to the presence of the exit pinch roll 78, particularly as it oooperetes with the entry pinch roll 74, a region of reduced tensile stress in the web W that surrounds the feed roll 80 is created between the entry and exit pinch rolls 74 and 78 respectively. Consequently, after the web W is cut by knife 40 to plaoe it in its weakened condition with its continuity being maintained only by the residual web segments, even if a pulling of the web by e user Is not adequately compensated by movement of the feed rail 80 under the impetus of tbs unloading of the stored spring energy, the pressure applied by the exit pinch roll 78 forcing the web material against the surface of the feed roll restricts the amount of tensile stress that can be effectively imparted to the uncut web segments when they have not yet moved beyond the mp of the exit pinch roll so as to protect against the segments being broken before the line of cut in the web emerges from the discharge opening .

Pigure 7 is a showing of the construction of a substantial commercial embodiment of the rolled material dispenser aeoordtng to the invention. The dispenser, indicated generally by reference numeral -Μ300, Includes a tack plate 202 mountable against a wan or otter support surface so that the paper toweling, or other webbed material therein, can be conveniently dispensed by intending users, a strike plate 204 dependi downwardly from the front of the top Up of the back plate 302. Welded or riveted ran mount assembles 200, 200 are attached to the tack plate 202 at upper Inside locatloos to provide ths rotatable support for the roll of web material (not shown). A bousing, shown generally at 210, whose Improved design provides greater stiffness and dimensional stability during the molding thereof, la secured to the baok plate 202 at a lower location thereof. The feed rott shown generally at 211, le rotatably secured to, and mounted In, the housing 210 by left and right cam chocks 214,210. A front corner portion of the feed roll 212 is broken away to Illustrate internal components thereof. Ihe feed roll 212 includes a bottom roll 210, a top roll 220, hlgb-friotion tiros 224, a pair of cam follower rollers 229, and a knife 226. The knife 220 Is movable with respect to the tires 224 In a controlled outting motion to produce a line of cut ln the web containing the earlier described uncut web segments.

The feed roll 212 has a crank 388 fixed thereto, that corresponds in operation to the earlier-described crank 102, activated under the Impetus of spring 290. m the eommerdal embodiment or the Invention It is desirable to connect the spring 200 to the crank 288 by way of an intermediate articulated link 292 thereby to eliminate undue wear at the connection between the spring and the crank.

An upper pinch roll 280, biased by springs 231, Is attached via pinch roll bushings 232 and the web winding# passes the upper pinch ron, the feed ran 212, and then the lower or exit pinch roll 234, that effectively grips the web material thereby eliminating premature breaking of the uncut portions of the toweling material. The exit pinch roll 234 is secured by bushings 238 attached to the pinch ran Shaft 238. However, while the upper pinch roll 220 is spring-biased against the feed roll 212, the organization of the exit pinch roll 234, and particularly of Its journal mount·, Is such as to Insure that the exit pinch roll Is biased against the feed rou only when the web W Is grasped by the user and a tensile strain is imposed on the web. Thus, -17' .the Journal openings for too axles of the exit pinch roll 284 are formed in the easing aa slots 289 which are elongated in a direction that pennlti the biasing effect of the pinch roll against the feed roll surface to be Imparted by the pull on tbe web imposed by the user end not by spring*. The web withdrawn from a roil secured to the mount assemblies 208, 208 is, therefore, threaded oounterelockwlse around an upper pinch roll 230 (which is biased by springs 281), clockwise round tbe rear side of tbe feed roll 212, and counterclockwise over tbe exit pinch roU 284 for delivery from the dispenser. Augmenting this operation to a stripper bar 239 that is secured to the bousing 210 generally In front of tbe feed roll 212. The stripper bar 289 is Illustrated In greater detail and in isolation la figures 9 to ll.

A feed wheel 242 ta shown In Figure 7 for attachment to the axle 220 of feed roll 212. Ihe wheel 242, by means Ose of an anti-ravening moofaanlsm may be undesirable, on the other hand, due to tbe feet that its operation, in preventing any retrograde movement of the feed roU 212 and thus relaxation of tbe spring 290 in situations where, for example, the spring has been caused to incur some retoadng because of an inertial force imposed on the feed roU. Thus, presence of toe anti-reversing mechanism to -Μthis situation has the undesirable effect at potentially maintaining a loading strain on the spring during extended periods of non-use of the mechanism.

The operation of this commercial embodiment of the invention corresponds In all material respeota to the operation of the earlier deeeribed Illustrative embodiment. Thus, with tbe roll of web material inserted and held in the roll mount assemblies 206, 208 and the material would around the upper and tower pinch rolls 388, 284 and the feed roll 212, the cover 280, whleh is pivoted at the bottom to the back plate 202, to pivoted upwardly to snap Into place, protecting the internal components of the dispenser. Tbe locking assembly for locking the cover 260 in ita rinsed position relative to the back plate 202 to shown generally at 282, and inoludee a plate took 284, a stud took 288, a spring took 268, a hammer lock 270, a lock barrel 272, a lock plate 274, and a key 278.

Thereafter, as the user pulls the web material from the Desirably, the dead center poritioa of the crank 288 oooure when the outtlng blade 228 is at, or just prior to, Its fully extended position from the feed roll 212 indicating a substantial completion of the web-cutting operation. Upon further rotation of tbe feed roll the energy stored in spring 290 to unloaded whereupon the reed roll to now driven by the crank to deliver the web material through tbe dtoeharge opening from the dispenser, mien the energy in the spring 290 is expended the feed roll provides a resistive foroe against which the user may pull the web to sever the uncut sagments. Alternatively, when there Is sufficient inertia to the teed roll 212, the user may simply hold the web material whereupon the uncut segments are broken -19» feed roll rotates beyond the position at which tbs spring energy to exhausted. to both of the previously described situations, It will be appreciated that rotation of the feed roll will be arrested by the spring force thus to dispose the leading end ws of the succeeding length cf web material at the position at which it can be readily grasped by a subsequent user of tha apparatus. While in the farmer mode of operation the toed roll may be «ram tinny at rest when the uncut web segments are severed by the pull exerted by the user. In the latter mode of operation, oo the other band, since the force of the spring is selected suoh that in its fully extended condition it is greeter than the strength of the residual uncut web segments, the segments will break before the feed roll achieves the next dead center position of the crank. Thus, upon severance of the segments the feed roll through the exertion of the spring will be returned to the desired position at which the feeding end of the succeeding length of web material can be conveniently grasped by a subsequent user.

It wW be appreciated that, ln utilizing the drive spring to arrest movement of the feed roil thereby to provide the resistive force against which the residual web segments are broken, a smooth, complete severence of the material 1s obtained. Not only does severing the tabs in this manner insure that only one sheet of material is dispensed at a time, it also promotes trouble-free operation of a dispense that is lees costly to manufacture and that occvpfes less space at its point of use.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that changes, adaptations and aaodiflcatioos of the present invention can be made by those persons having ordinary skin in the art to which the aforementioned invention pertains. However, it is Intended that all suoh variations not departing (rem the epririt of the invention, as recited In tha claims, be considered as being within the scope thereof sa limited solely by the appeodsd claims.

Claims (19)

1. A dispenser (or flexible sheet material, comprising: a chassis forming a housing having a material discharge opening} moans carried by said chassis for feeding a supply of flexible sheet material; means for cutting said web to produoe therein a transverse Hoe of cut containing residual unsevered segments of web material for maintaining the continuity of said webj a feed ndl mounted on said chassis for rotation through an operating cycle in which said web is conducted from said feed means into operative relation to said cutting means to a predetermined position outside said discharge to he grasped hy a user for pulling said web from said dispenser and thereby Impart rotational movement to said feed roll; and energy storing means operatively oonneoted to said feed roll to be loaded during rotation of aaid teed roll through one portion of aaid operating cycle and unloaded during another portion of said operating cycle for moving said feed roll to conduct said sheet material web with the line of out thereon exteriorly of said discharge opening, said energy storing means Imparting a resistive force to said feed roll effective tn operate against the pun of said user to Impart a gradually increasing force on said web for severing said residual segments.

2. A dispenser according to claim 1 in whloh said energy storing means comprises a resilient spring operative tn Impart to Mid feed rou a resistive force exceeding the strength of said unsevered segments. I. A dispenser according to claim 2 in which said resilient Spring is connected to said feed roll as, when relaxed, to dispose said line of out in said predetermined position.

3. 4. A dispenser according to claim > in which said resilient spring is connected to said feed roll to impart said resistive force tn laid feed ndl subsequent to achieving its relaxed condition In the operating cycle of said feed roIL -115. A dispenser accordng to any on ct claims 2 to 4 In which saM feed roll Includes an eccentric crank drivlngly connected thereto and said resilient spring having one end connected to said crank and the other end fixedly secured with respect to said chassis. 8. A dtopenser according to any one of claims 1 to 4 including a pinch ran cooperating with said feed roll downstream, in the material-moving sense, from said cutting means operative to Mas said material against said feed roa, and means for biasing said pinch roll toward said feed roU.

4. 7. A dtopenser according to claim β In which said pinch roll la operahly positioned between the suit aee of said feed roll and said dtocharge opening. I. A dispenser according to claim β In whioh said pinto roll biasing means comprises Journal means mounting said pinto roll for rotation, and means for moving said pinto roll In said Journal means toward said feed roll under the urging of the grasp of said user in pulling said web from said dispenser.

5. 9. A dispenser according to claim 8 In which said Journal means comprises opposed elongated slots In said chassis for reception of the ends of said pinch roll, said slots being disposed forwardly or said feed roll and each having a generally horizontal longitudinal axis extending toward said feed roil.

6. 10. A dtopenser according to any one of claims l to 4 In whlto said feed roll has a hollow Interior and said cutting means comprises a cutting knife mounted therein, and operating means for extending and retracting said outting knife to and from said feed roll interior to produoe said tine of cut in saM wto material.

7. 11. A dtopenser according to claim 9 In whieh aaid cutting knife extends substantially parallel to the rotational axis or Bald feed roll.

8. 12. A dtopenser according to claim 9 to which said cutting knife operating mean oomprtoes cam means operable to response to rotation of said feed roll for cyclically extending and retracting said cutting knife In response to each rotation of said feed ran. -2218. In a dispenser for dispensing sheet» of flexible material severed from a wet and Ineluding cutting means for producing therein a transverse Una of out containing residual unsevered segments of web material, a feed mechanism comprising! a rotatable feed roll for conducting said web from a storage position to said cutting means and thence to a user accessible position exterior# cf said dispenser, means for driving said feed ran through an operating cycle In responee to a pulling force exerted by said user on a portion of said web disposed in said accessible position, means operable by said feed roll for driving said cutting means during a web-cutting portion ot said operating cycle, and energy storing means operahly connected to said feed roll to be loaded during rotation of said feed roil through an Initial portion of the operating oyote thereof and unloaded during a subsequent portion of said operating cycle tc oonduct said web with the line of cut thereon exteriorly of said dispenser, said energy storing means, ln a relaxed state, being operative to position said feed roll for placing said line of cut at said user accessible position and being further operative to Impart a resistive force to said feed roll effective to operate against said pulling force to Impart a gradual# Increasing tensile strain on said web effective to sever said residual segments ln said line of out.

9. 14. The feed mechanism according to claim 12 ln which said Initial portion of said operating cycle includes said web-cutting portion ln whloh said line of cut Is produced In said web.

10. 15. ihe feed mechanism according to either one of claims 12 and 14 including tQ cocentrio crank driving# connected to said feed roll and in which said energy storing means comprises a resltieQt spring having one end attached to said crank and the other end thereof fixed# secured with respect to said dispense·. 19. The feed mechanism according to claim 15 inducting a pinch roll cooperating with said feed ron downstream, in the web-moving sense, from saM outting means operative to bias said web against said feed roll, and moans for biasing said pinch roil toward said feed roll·

11. 17. The feed mechanism according to claim 16 In which aald pinch roll biasing means comprises Journal means mounting said pinch roll for rotation, and moans for moving said pinch roQ In said Journal means toward said food roil under the urging of tha grasp of said user in pulling said web from said dispenser. IS. Tho feed mechanism aoconfing to claim 13 In which said feed roll mounts a cutting knife for movement with respect tn said web, and operating moans for extending and retracting said cutting knife toward and away from said web to produce said Una of cut therein. IS. The feed mechanism according to claim IS In which said feed roll has an axis of rotation extending transversely of said web and said cutting knife extends substantially parallel to aald feed roll axis.

12. 20. The feed mechanism aooording to claim is in which said cutting knife operating means comprises cam moans operable hi response to rotation of said feed roll for cyclically extending and retracting said cutting knife in response to each rotation of said feed rolL

13. 21. A method of actuating said cutting means (or partially severing said web; driving said feed roll by the energy stored In said spring over another portion of the rotational cycle of said feed roll to deliver said partially severed web to a predetermined position beyond said dbpeosar discharge opening; and 24thereafter severing laid web by Imparting a gradually Increasing tensile stress oo the unsevered portion of said web against the resistance produced by loading said spring,

14. 22. The method of alaim 21 to which said severing step to effected by pulling the web to load said spring following said cutting step. 22. Tbs method according to claim 21 in which said step of cutting said web occurs prior to said feed roll driving step.

15. 24. The method aocordtog to claim 2S including the step of relaxing the load on said spring following severance of said web to return the end of the remainder of said web to said predetermined position. 29. The method according to claim 24 including the step Intermediate said outtlng and said severing steps of restricting the tensile strain imparted to said unsevered web portion. 28. The method aooocdtog to claim 25 in which said tensile strain restricting step to effected by biasing said web against said feed roll.

16. 27. The method accorffing to claim 29 in which said dispenser Includes a pinch roU in operative position with respect to said feed roll and said web biasing step is performed by manually urging said pinch roll toward said feed roll·

17. 28. A dispenser according to any preceding claim substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

18. 29. A feed mechanism according to any preceding claim substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

19. 30. A method of dispensing a web of flexible sheet material from a dispenser according to any preceding claim substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.